Agricultural Non-point Source Pollution Control: From Croplands Management to Water Quality Improvement

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 March 2024) | Viewed by 5061

Special Issue Editor

1. Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China
2. School of Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
Interests: agricultural non-point source pollution; crop nutrient management; greenhouse gas mitigation; environmental materials for soil improvement and water purification

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Ensuring food safety while mitigating agricultural non-point source (AGNPS) pollution presents a great challenge globally. A full time–space governance strategy and chain technology system for source reduction, process retention, nutrient reuse, and water restoration, as well as a comprehensive application scenario at the administrative region or catchment scale, are essential for AGNPS pollution control. This Special Issue will cover a broad range of topics, including critical pollution source area identification; new smart fertilizer and mechanical deep fertilization technology for nutrient loss control; new environmental materials for the removal of N, P, and COD; new innovative ecological engineering technology for improving water quality; nutrient reuse technology; and new management tools or policies for reducing AGNPS pollution. The article is not limited to field experiments and engineering practices; related laboratory mechanism research is also encouraged.

Dr. Lihong Xue
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • agricultural non-point pollution
  • water purification
  • N removal
  • nutrient reuse
  • ecological engineering

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 14114 KiB  
Article
Evaluating Effects of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Discharges under Different Reduction Scenarios: A Case of Chaohu Lake Basin, China
by Xi Chen, Sidi Chen, Yanhua Wang, Ling Jiang, Xiaoli Huang, AmirReza Shahtahmassebi, Zishuai Dai and Zucong Cai
Agronomy 2023, 13(12), 3079; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13123079 - 18 Dec 2023
Viewed by 977
Abstract
Determining the amount of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) discharged into lakes and assessing the effectiveness of reduction measures in a basin that involve the interaction of multiple factors are still daunting challenges. In this study, the random forest (RF) model was employed [...] Read more.
Determining the amount of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) discharged into lakes and assessing the effectiveness of reduction measures in a basin that involve the interaction of multiple factors are still daunting challenges. In this study, the random forest (RF) model was employed to simulate the impact of controlling measures on the amount of N and P discharged in 2025 under seven specific reduction scenarios. Discharged N and P decreased in the basin by 23.38% and 31.69% from 2011 to 2020, respectively. The N and P nutrient discharge intensities were significantly higher in the western part of the basin (13.31 kg·ha−1·a−1 and 1.34 kg·ha−1·a−1) than those in the eastern region (10.24 kg·ha−1·a−1 and 0.74 kg·ha−1·a−1). Fertilizer runoff (N: 34.72%, 5934.49 t; P: 13.60%, 199.76 t), domestic sewage (N: 29.14%, 4009.27 t; P: 34.84%, 496.59 t), and livestock farming (N: 15.11%, 2657.50 t; P: 40.05%, 616.05 t) were the key sources of N and P. The RF model shows that (R2 > 0.994, p < 0.01) the multi-factor reduction effect is the best, and under this discharge reduction effect, the amount of N and P discharged in 2025 are expected to decrease by 13.79% and 19.42%, respectively, compared with those in 2020. In addition, different key sources in sub-basins might lead to regional differences in the discharge reduction effects of various measures. Ultimately, we recommend that the synergistic treatment of point and non-point sources, using treatments with multiple measures, should be implemented in different regions to reduce the amount of N and P discharged in the Chaohu Lake Basin. Full article
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15 pages, 1797 KiB  
Article
Effects of Cellulosic Carbon Addition on Nitrogen Removal from Simulated Dry Land Drainage, and Its Environmental Effects
by Jingjing Duan, Pengpeng Cao, Tong Shu, Beibei Zhou, Lihong Xue and Linzhang Yang
Agronomy 2023, 13(12), 3044; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13123044 - 13 Dec 2023
Viewed by 672
Abstract
Agricultural non-point source pollution has emerged as a significant driver of declining global water quality in recent years. Ditch systems hold considerable promise for trapping and purifying pollutants. However, the persistent challenge has been the limited availability of carbon sources in drainage water, [...] Read more.
Agricultural non-point source pollution has emerged as a significant driver of declining global water quality in recent years. Ditch systems hold considerable promise for trapping and purifying pollutants. However, the persistent challenge has been the limited availability of carbon sources in drainage water, which significantly hinders nitrogen (N) removal in ditches. This study investigated the dynamic changes in ammonia (NH4+) and nitrate (NO3) levels caused by three cellulosic carbon additions (rice straw, coir, and sawdust) during both winter and summer seasons. Water column devices were used as containers, and the impacts on environmental factors and water denitrification rates were explored. Results demonstrated that the addition of straw exhibited the most effective N removal in winter and summer, and significantly enhanced water denitrification rates in a short timeframe, with the maximum denitrification rate reaching 1482.42 μmol·L−1·h−1. However, there was an observed accumulation of NH4-N and chemical oxygen demand (COD) in summer. Also, the addition of sawdust resulted in a notable increase in greenhouse gas emissions during the summer test. In conclusion, during the cooler seasons of winter and spring when temperatures are not as high, the combined use of various cellulosic carbon sources has the potential to enhance water denitrification and mitigate adverse environmental impacts, offering valuable applications for water quality improvement. Full article
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11 pages, 1261 KiB  
Article
Effect of Grass Buffer Strips on Nitrogen and Phosphorus Removal from Paddy Runoff and Its Optimum Widths
by Kexin Miao, Wanqing Dai, Zijian Xie, Chunhua Li and Chun Ye
Agronomy 2023, 13(12), 2980; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13122980 - 1 Dec 2023
Viewed by 794
Abstract
Paddy runoff pollution is one of the major contributors to limiting the improvement of water quality in Taihu Lake Basin. Grass buffer strips (GBSs) are an effective measure to control paddy runoff pollution. However, most studies only consider a single inflow condition, and [...] Read more.
Paddy runoff pollution is one of the major contributors to limiting the improvement of water quality in Taihu Lake Basin. Grass buffer strips (GBSs) are an effective measure to control paddy runoff pollution. However, most studies only consider a single inflow condition, and few studies have considered the effect of high-frequency rainfall. In this study, a field runoff simulation experiment was constructed to simulate the effect of GBSs on runoff nitrogen and phosphorus removal at different inflow volumes, inflow velocities, inflow concentrations, and rainfall frequencies. Results demonstrated that the larger the inflow volume, the faster the inflow velocity, and the lower the inflow concentration, the higher the runoff pollutant interception rate that occurred in GBSs, and the interception rate improved significantly with increasing GBS widths. The peak change point of removal rate occurred at a width of 15 m for NO3-N and TP and at a 25 m width for TN and NH4+-N. The cumulative removal rate increased slowly after the change point. Although the peak cumulative removal rate appeared at a GBS width of 35~45 m. Considering the pollutants intercepted by GBSs and the emerging demand for land in this basin, 25 m was recommended as the optimum width to remove runoff pollutants. Full article
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13 pages, 1331 KiB  
Article
Struvite as P Fertilizer on Yield, Nutrient Uptake and Soil Nutrient Status in the Rice–Wheat Rotation System: A Two-Year Field Observation
by Jizheng Wang, Lihong Xue, Pengfu Hou, Tianjia Hao, Lixiang Xue, Xi Zhang, Tianyi Sun, Sergey Lobanov and Linzhang Yang
Agronomy 2023, 13(12), 2948; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13122948 - 29 Nov 2023
Viewed by 1236
Abstract
Long-term large inputs of phosphorus (P) fertilizer in China have caused serious soil P accumulation, low P use efficiency (PUE) and high risk of P loss. Controlling the amount of P fertilizer applied presents an inevitable choice for improving the PUE. Struvite recycled [...] Read more.
Long-term large inputs of phosphorus (P) fertilizer in China have caused serious soil P accumulation, low P use efficiency (PUE) and high risk of P loss. Controlling the amount of P fertilizer applied presents an inevitable choice for improving the PUE. Struvite recycled from agricultural wastewater rich in N and P concentrations are capable of slow nutrient release, improving nutrient uptake and enabling the reuse of nutrients from environmental sources when applied to agricultural land. A two-year field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of struvite combined with P reduction under a rice–wheat rotation system in eastern China. A total of five treatments were set up, including conventional fertilization (FP), a struvite substitution of 100% P fertilizer (SP), a 50% P reduction with struvite substitution (RSP), no application of N fertilizer (N0) and no application of P fertilizer (P0). Grain yield, crop N and P uptake, N and P use efficiency (NUE and PUE) and soil nutrient status were assessed. Under the same P application rate, the yield and aboveground biomass of the SP treatment were slightly higher than those of FP treatment, but the crop P uptake, PUE and soil available P content were significantly increased. The RSP treatment did not reduce yield with 50% P reduction, and significantly improved the PUE and soil available P content. Crop N uptake and NUE were also found to be increased in SP and RSP treatments with struvite substitution. The P apparent balance showed that both the SP and FP treatments had a P surplus, but the RSP treatment had a P break-even, and the soil available P content remains stable compared with the initial value. The results indicate that struvite application could improve the soil P availability and crop nutrient uptake then promote the crop yield. To increase the nutrient use efficiency of crops while ensuring crop yield and soil fertility, appropriate P reduction combined with struvite as a P fertilizer could be sustainable in the rice–wheat rotation system in the long run. Full article
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14 pages, 20429 KiB  
Article
Identifying the Spatial Risk Patterns of Agricultural Non-Point Source Pollution in a Basin of the Upper Yangtze River
by Junli Wang, Zishi Fu, Hongxia Qiao, Yucui Bi and Fuxing Liu
Agronomy 2023, 13(11), 2776; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13112776 - 8 Nov 2023
Viewed by 822
Abstract
Agricultural non-point source pollution (ANPSP) is a primary cause of watershed water quality deterioration, and over 50% of NPS pollutants are estimated to come from ANPSP. Based on the “source-sink” theory and minimum cumulative resistance (MCR) model, ANPSP source and key resistance factors [...] Read more.
Agricultural non-point source pollution (ANPSP) is a primary cause of watershed water quality deterioration, and over 50% of NPS pollutants are estimated to come from ANPSP. Based on the “source-sink” theory and minimum cumulative resistance (MCR) model, ANPSP source and key resistance factors were integrated to identify areas at risk of ANPSP production and transportation into the waters of the upper Yangtze River basin. The results showed a spatial difference in the agricultural pollution sources of the basin, which were determined using both ANPSP loads and land-use types. Soil type, rainfall erosivity, and elevation were the three most important resistance factors in pollution transportation, weighting 0.373, 0.241, and 0.147, respectively. There was a spatial effect on the comprehensive resistance of ANPSP transportation, which was lower in mountainous terrain at the central basin. On the coupling of source and resistance processes, regions at serious risk of ANPSP were found to be concentrated in the southwest area. Areas at very high risk of NH3-N and TP pollution accounted for 37.6% and 38.1%, respectively, in the total town/street area. The spatial risk patterns identified in this study could be used for decision making and policy regulation of ANPSP and for aquatic environmental protection. Full article
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